Dear Bacon – Okay I admit it. I’m in a predicament… some would say stuck between a limb and another limb. I blame it on these pesky squirrels that seem to have taken over my yard. I was chasing showing one how to get out and he jumped in the tree. I followed. I know you have Journalist Rocky the Squirrel that lives in your backyard. Any suggestions on keeping the little rats squirrels out of my kingdom? Signed Hanging

Dear Hanging – Well you do look kind of uncomfortable there my friend. The first thing is to get to know those squirrels. I assure you they are not as pesky as you think. Really – I assure you. Make friends – you will be surprised what they will do for you think. Journalist Rocky the Squirrel and his clan keep out the other unwanted dogs and purr things from my kingdom 🙂

Dear Bacon – Honestly this is *not* what it looks like. I wasn’t kicking anyone. I wasn’t having a momentarily lapse of judgement. I wasn’t going crazy. You’re going to laugh when I tell you what I was doing. Really – are you ready? I was learning how to swing dance. Yep, swing dance. It works much better with a partner but I was practicing my moves. What do you think about that little pig? Signed Swinger

Dear Swinger – I am highly impressed my friend. Really I am. That is such a hard dance to learn and I’m impressed that you are doing it. If my hips could move like that, I would so join up for lessons with you.

Dear Bacon – I’m sitting in a pan I am. It’s the pan for the dog who is a hog (no offense). He chases me and tries to sting me like a bee. He no eat until he kisses my feet. Signed Seuss Without a Rhyme

Dear Seuss Without a Rhyme – Snorts! No offense taken. I get it. You and the dog are frenemies. You keep your enemies close to you to know what they are up to – usually no good. Instead of sitting in his bowl, perhaps hide that huge bowl. No bowl to fill, no food to eat and you can act all innocent like you don’t know what they are talking about when they ask what happened to his bowl. See where I’m going with this? Cause you know after a while, it’s going to get boring sitting in an empty bowl. Unless nature calls… then you have something to fill.

Dear Bacon – Oh dear mercy to the heavens. Please help me. My humans have went over the deep end. Signed Fill in for Nicki Minaji

Dear Fill in for Nicki Minaji – Hubba – Hubba. Look at you my sweet friend. I think you got the looks and the skills to pull this off. I wouldn’t be upset with your humans – I would tell them that if they are going to dress you up like Ms. Minaji, then they have to treat you like the star she is!

Welcome my friends to our weekly issue of Journey with Friends. This is a time that we come together for support, for encouragement, for fellowship – all with one single goal in mind – to live better. Welcome to our journey to share our goals and our accomplishments and our disappointments and frustrations.

Together we can do this!

February 19, 2017 – Today was a test. A test of strength and dedication. Yesterday we took mom out for her birthday. I did amazingly good with my choices of food. No problems there and I even got a little walk in with some errands we did afterwards. Do you remember the dilemma we had last month with the refrigerator? Well guess what went out today? The washing machine decided it was done and called it turned in it’s resignation. Shaking my head. Of course it would do that when it was full of water and dirty clothes. So after getting out all of the dirty clothes, wringing them and taking them to my moms to do, we had to go shopping for a new washer. And while we were at it, get a new dryer. Why the dryer? Because the dryer is pushing 30 plus years and I know it will probably decide to quit next month. That’s the way it works, right? So I was tested this date fully. And by the time all was said and done, I was craving a real Coke like something you wouldn’t believe. I want to say thank you now to all the peeps who are on my Facebook page that helped me out in my time of need and talked me down. You are the best ❤ I did not get a Coke. I did not drink any sodas. I drunk three glasses of water and called it that. So, I’m still no soda’s since December which is a miracle. Miles Moved: 1.28

February 20, 2017 – Before I started changing my lifestyle, I tried on a pair of Levi’s that I used to wear. Don’t we all do that? I could barely get them over my bum and don’t even think about buttoning them. One edge was far east and the other far west and they were never to meet again. This morning, I tried them on again to test the waters. Over my legs, over my butt with ease. Shocker! And the button side and whole side almost touched. You can pass out now – I almost did. Eight weeks and I can *almost* button them. Now that is a feeling that makes you continue this path. Miles Moved: 2.62

February 21, 2017 – Do you ever have days that you feel short? I’m 5’8″ and most of the time, I walk talk and feel tall. But there are days when I walk that I feel so short like the ground is so close to my face. Isn’t that funny? I woke up this morning to a very high pollen count. Pollen is so early here in the south! Usually we don’t get pollen until next month. My nose and my eyes were having a race to see who wanted to misbehave the most this morning. I went for my walk and I think I dryed everything out. At least I can breathe now for a while. Miles Moved: 2.60

February 22, 2017 – I had to get my walk in today. I have a funny feeling that I will not get much exercise the next couple of days with everything that we need to get done. But today’s walk was good. Thank goodness for that. Miles Moved: 2.92

February 23, 2017 – Yep I was right. Today was a circus for sure. I do not recommend appointments for the accountant, lawyer, post office and nails all in one day. And, I may not have walked per say but I did enough bending up and down cleaning out the laundry room in preparation for our new washer/dryer installation scheduled for tomorrow. Miles Moved: 1.32

February 24, 2017 – I hate waiting for any delivery. There I said it. I waited all day for the delivery of our washer/dryer who didn’t get here until after 5:30pm. Then, the wrong cord was ordered for the dryer. They have to come back out tomorrow. Lucky me. And again I didn’t get to walk but while waiting for the delivery guy I cleaned the house all day. Miles Moved: 1.62

February 25, 2017 – Again another entirely day of waiting. The delivery got here finally after 6:00pm to change the cord. The guy was here for less than ten minutes. What a pain in the butt! Miles Moved: I didn’t wear my I-watch today. I was cleaning and didn’t want to hit it or get it wet

Thoughts for the week: Persistence. That’s a really hard word to come to terms with at times. We all want instant gratification. Trust me. I’m no difference. It’s taking me eight weeks to see physical changes and that is persistence. So far technically, I’ve only lost 12 pounds (our next weigh in is scheduled 03/04/2017). But everyday I feel changes and shifts in my body. It’s happening and I have to keep working towards my goal. That’s when we have to keep telling ourselves, “Keep going. Don’t stop.” Just when you think you can’t, you see or feel something different. This is a blurry picture but you can see the difference. See how lose the pants are? Finally! Something you can see that makes you feel like persistence is a good thing.

February 26th is a day that fairy tales are made of – it’s Tell a Fairy Tale Day. Everyone loves a good fairy tale – kids, adults and animals. It’s a great way to bond with your friends. Pick a story or make up a story. Either way, it’s a great time for everyone!

It’s not a requirement to start with “Once upon a time…” but it is a requirement to have a happy ending. There’s absolutely nothing better than to the end with “and they all lived happily ever after.”

So, cozy up with your selected loved one and read a fairy tale or make up one. You all know that the pampered pig Bacon gets a bed time story every night when his mom tucks him up. (That pig is *beyond* spoiled!) I asked him to share one of her stories with his friends here and he said this one is his favorite. We hope you enjoy!

“Once upon a time there was a four legged hooved piggy who was adopted by a human family. We’ve all seen Stuart Little. A little mouse that was adopted by the Little family. Well, this family was just about the same. They really wanted a baby of their own but circumstances just didn’t work out. They did the next best thing and adopted a little runt piglet that was only three weeks old. They took Bacon home and created his own little nursery for him, catered to him and taught him how to become a little man.

As Bacon grew more and more each day and learned the ways of being a little human, he also grew more and more in his parent’s hearts. They wanted little Bacon to do nothing more than to blossom and be happy with his life. Bacon caught on quick to the human ways and started watching television, surfing the net on his laptop and even created his own blog. In no time, little Bacon became a little pig star in his own right!

Bacon adjusted to life at the Hotel Thompson and caught on so well with the schedule of the Thompson clan. He knew when it was time to eat. He knew when it was time to take a nap. He even knew when it was time to go to bed. He created his own little routine before bedtime every night.

Not only was Bacon happy at the Hotel Thompson, he brought happiness to the Hotel Thompson. Little Bacon became such a happy part in his parent’s eyes that they couldn’t even remember life without Bacon. He filled a void that his mommy had and made her the happiest mommy in the world. His mommy fully loved Bacon and Bacon fully his mommy.

And to this day, Bacon and his parents are living happily ever after at the Hotel Thompson.”

HA! You knew daddy had to be behind this shirt literally and figuratively, right? He said this shirt has both of us written all over it. I barked. Mom said she should get daddy a matching shirt. Now that’s funny. Today we are suppose to get our new washer and dryer. I hope so. Maybe mom can calm down a bit afterwards and maybe then we can have a better weekend than we had last weekend. I hope so anyway.

I heard mom talking to a neighbor last night. Mom was holding me and said neighbor told mom that I had legs. No way! Get out of here. I have legs?! Did you know that? Anyway said neighbor told mom she should take me for walks…. on a leash. Really? I wanted to tell this said neighbor to take herself for a walk on a leash. Really? Stay out of my business please and thank you. The gall of this person. Mom kept her cool though. She told said person that I could go for a walk but she would have to carry me back cause you know this cute little body is not made for long walks. No way! That’s why I have me a puppy carriage. I walk in style… or should I say I get pushed in style. Barks and rolls with puppy laughter.

Mom/dad have lots of errands to get done today/tomorrow. Mom even had to take off work to get everything done. You do realize what that means, right? It means no snuggles during the day time for us anipals. That’s kind of crap I say.

Some of your from Facebook know that mom/dad have a secret they are keeping for the end of the year. They are not telling. I can’t believe that it’s still a secret cause mom/dad they have tendency not to keep their mouths shut. Unlike a certain oinker – I can keep a secret. Looks innocent. But today, they are working on stuff for that secret. All I know is there is LOTS of paperwork that mom has been going through, signing and filling out. She has been a busy girl. She has sent things out, gotten replies, signed sheets and sent them back.

It goes on and on like that and has been for a couple of months. Then mom/dad huddle in front of the laptop oohhing and aawing over things and mumbling to themselves. And now today, they have appointments with the accountant, the lawyer and they have to go to the post office to send more stuff off. What is up with that? What can this giant secret be?

And then tomorrow… Lord help us all friends. Tomorrow we have another delivery coming to the Hotel Thompson. Not surprise deliveries – a washer and dryer. Last weekend, the washing machine decided to give it up and quit. It was tired. I can’t really blame the washing machine. He was 18 years old and had a great service life. The washer was 30 years plus old so mom/dad got both replaced. And yes… we just got a new refrigerator last month. Shaking my head. Mom is about to lose her mommy mind with the appliances here at the Hotel Thompson. Let’s all pray that the delivery goes smoothly. If not, you will hear my southern mommy going ballistic. ❤